Attachment during the COVID-19 pandemic

The scientific literature has shown the key role played by attachment behaviors in childhood and attachment representations in adulthood in recognizing, processing and regulating emotions in stressful situations. The COVID-19 crisis has caused significant psychological distress and led to a mental health crisis around the world. Factors that have contributed to these issues include pandemic-related health restrictions, social isolation, uncertainty, disruption in the way people interact, work, play, and changes regarding family routines between parents and children. The present literature review is based on information collected from different search engines on publications released between the spring 2020 and the spring 2022. More than 80 articles, most of them relating surveys, were considered. They confirm the relevance of the individuals' attachment behaviors and representations when it comes to the implications of the pandemic; these data are important for public health, regarding a better management of future collective threats.